About a dozen airports, among them Salt Lake City, Oakland, and
Seattle-Tacoma, have opened cell phone lots where you can wait for
arriving visitors.

Circling cars, sudden lane changes, roaring engines—picking someone up at the airport can feel like driving the Indy 500. Why not pull into a pit stop and wait for the green flag? More and more airports are introducing cell phone waiting lots where you can turn off your engine until your friend or family member arrives and calls for a ride. Best of all, parking is free. About a dozen airports—including Salt Lake City, Oakland, and Seattle-Tacoma—have opened cell phone lots with names such as Park & Call and Stage & Go. Most are within a five-minute drive of the terminal. Before you leave home, visit your airport’s Web site to determine the lot location.

Graphic courtesy Oakland International

This article was first published in January 2006. Some facts may have aged gracelessly. Please call ahead to verify information.